Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Worked The Phone

I called Winnebago Factory in Forest City, Iowa.  I made an appointment with their service department for mid April.  No problem picking a date.  I guess people don’t like the 50’s and 30’s (night) to get their rig worked on.  The Baby got 5 things to repair or check and nothing major but above my level to repair.  They said they would reserve three days to work on it.  It must really be slow in April to reserve three days.  I was going to wait until our return trip from Alaska (Sept) but figure do this on the way up and then might need another appointment coming back.  After Alaska  we will get a full Freightliner/Cummins check out/oil/filters at Baltimore Freightliner.  Carol’s bro is a diesel mechanic there and we get a discount along with superb workmanship.

I called Freightliner Houston and ordered a power steering reservoir gasket.  Ours is still leaking and I will install the $13 part instead of going thru their shop and warranty.  Hey, how hard can it be?  It will arrive next week and we will go get it in Carol’s car the Mariner. 

I also called Westport Lincoln in Houston where we bought the Mercury Mariner in 2010.  It’s going in for it’s free oil/filter maintenance thing the same day the RV’s gasket is suppose to be ready for pick up.  Let’s see if it all comes together.

I ordered a K & N air filter (38-2009R  $268) for the Baby.  It was about $90 more than an original factory air filter.  Last time in Alaska (2011) I had to replace my air filter with only about 4K miles on the filter.  That was the only time I had to replace an air filter out of 4 times up there.  Since this is our last RV (again) it should be a good investment.

Then I called it a day.  Pun intended….

See ya……..

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Can You Hear Me Now

Monday we will take my Mom to Woodville to see an assisted living home.  Carol & I went there last week.  We liked the staff and the facilities.  We were invited back for their lunch.  Hey, a free meal.

We got to finally meet the owner of the Gardens assisted home where she’s at now.  Carol & I just don’t like the guy nor his facilities.  He’s a money hungry person and shows no care nor respect for his tenants.  Mom picked this place in Dec and has hated it ever since.  The new place, The Orchards, we found and we like.  Now we will see if it meets Mom’s approval.  We are sure she will like it.  The we will try to get her moved by the 1st.  That will be interesting with her bed and electric cart.

I ordered my CB “stuff” for the rig.  It’s four separate items and some of it’s on a slow boat from China.  It’s a cheap radio with a real good tunable antennae plus all the mounting items & cable.  I use to be really into CBs big time many years ago so mounting it and tuning it won’t be a problem.  I need a SWR meter though.  You will be able to “hear me now” when I “get ur done.”

The “Baby” needs a little more prep for Alaska.  I need to raise the mud flap as high as it will go which is basically another inch or so.  This is so IT don’t kick up debris/stones from the road.  Then I have to wash and wax the Baby.  Yes I know I had it waxed down in Yuma a couple of weeks ago.  I will try to get to it within the next month.  I got to grease all the compartment door locks too.  I finally got my tires aired up to where I want them.  A 100 lbs across the rear tires and 110 in the front when it’s 65 degrees out.  I basically raised them 5 lbs each since the weather is colder now and will be the rest of the year basically with going to Alaska and all. 

The Jeep needs a wash and wax too.  I got a Yoga mat (Walmart $9) for the windshield.  I need to cut it down and see how it works being towed down the road.

Se ya….

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Milepost 0 Dawson Creek BC

About 90 days from now we will be at Dawson Creek, Milepost 0 of the Alaska Highway.  DSC_0009 This has been our starting point for our last four trips up there.  We will have friends nearby who are members of the Loosey Goosey Group like in 2011. DSC_0005-1

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This will be our first night after Dawson Creek….a closed down provincial park.  Room for about 25 big rigs.DSC_0022

Being full timers we have already loaded the RV of course.  We are removing a few things and loading up on others.  We won’t load up on food till we get to the last big city before we head into Canada which will be Great Falls.  No sense carrying it around before then for us. 

We are anxious just like if this is our first trip.DSC_0011-2 

We will leave Livingston, TX, ABOUT April Fool’s Day but not at a gallop. DSC_0045

We will take it slow because it will still be cold going North towards Canada.  We will cross over at Sweetwater above Great Falls, MT about the 17th of May give or take a day or so.

Stay tuned…

See ya……..

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Merry Christmas !

We woke up and had had our normal Uncle Herschel's breakfast at Cracker Barrel where we spent the night.   After breakfast we got under way for our 180 mile trip to Livingston, TX.

You are a red neck if you still have your Christmas signs up.  It’s called normal in this neck of the woods.DSC_0002 DSC_0004

Now do you have a drive thru liquor store?  That just don’t seem to go together.DSC_0005

We stopped at a Pilot to get DEF at the pump for $2.79 gallon.  We had to drive into a big truck pump area backwards, opposite the normal direction.  Our DEF tank is on the passenger side and the DEF pump is on the driver side.  Thus drive thru in the opposite direction.  The truck stop was slow so it was no problem.  I also filled up the two 2 1/2 gallon portable containers.  I added 4 gallons in the RV DEF tank and earlier added the two 2 1/2 gallon containers.  So, that means overall the RV DEF is lasting about 4 gallons per 1,000 miles.  Since the RV DEF tank is 13 1/2 gallons.  We can go 3,000 miles on a tank and that is a very rough estimate.

In Onalaska we got fuel for $3.53 a gallon.  I jammed it in.  In Livingston the fuel is $3.59.DSC_0007

We got to our lot about noon.  It was 80 degrees and 90% humidity.  Whew…. we gone from a dry heat to a wet heat. DSC_0011  

The power steering gasket is still leaking.  I will order the gasket and install it myself in the next few weeks.  No bigee hopefully.  DSC_0010 DSC_0009DSC_0008

See ya………

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Go

Here’s what we woke up to Tuesday morning.

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We ended up at Cracker Barrel in Waco, TX Tuesday evening which was 550 miles for the day.  We didn’t plan it that way it just happened.  We still had a slight head wind or a little south wind but it was a very nice drive.  It was ALL back roads which made it longer but nice scenery.DSC_0005

Really trashy in some areas.DSC_0007

Cattle and oil in West TexasDSC_0008 DSC_0011

They got wind power too.DSC_0015

A lot of these back roads in Texas the speed limits are 70 and even 75 MPH.  We did mostly 65 MPH.DSC_0021 DSC_0022  DSC_0028

Some little town hanging on.DSC_0029

 

We saw over 50 dead skunks today.  Here I thought most of the skunks were in Washington DCDSC_0027DSC_0033

A few alligators along the way too.DSC_0035

Got fuel in Midland at the H.E.B. grocery store for $3.65.  That should be it until Livingston.  I had the LOW DEF light come on near Waco.  I added 5 gallons of DEF that I carry.  I still haven’t figured out my DEF fuel mileage yet.

It’s Wednesday morning and it’s time to go get our Cracker Barrel breakfast.

See ya…..

Monday, February 17, 2014

Up Up and Stay

Well we ended up at the Guadalupe Mtns National Park  which was about 400 miles today (Monday).  We got fuel in Las Cruces Love’s for $3.78 cash.  The Baby got 8.2 MPG.  At the park dry camping (parking) on pavement is $4 with an old geezers pass.  Here we are or should I say there we are.  Yes,  I parked right next to the Prevost.DSC_0074

Along the way…..  DSC_0004DSC_0028DSC_0039 DSC_0055 DSC_0059 DSC_0067 DSC_0069 DSC_0070 DSC_0071

This is rare….DSC_0072

We lost the solar power about 5:15 PM due to the mountains.  Generator time is 8 AM to 8 PM.  Just another great day full timing on the road.

Happy Happy Happy

See ya…..

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Gizzards, Livers & Smoked Pulled Pork

Here we are staying near Sharon & Don.  Nice lot and it’s for sale.  Not sure of the price.  The one next to it is $65K.DSC_0001-003

Now that it’s warmer the bugs are out and I had to get them off the front of the Baby before the the sun hits the front.  Then I shined the wheels…oh yea…DSC_0002-003

Here’s Sharon & Don’s place…DSC_0004-003

 

Gizzards and Liver…  We found them at the Chester’s Chicken just down the road at the truck stop.  Don and I couldn’t resist.  He had the livers and I had the gizzards…..ahhh it’s a man’s world for a moment.

We saw this rig as we came in and Sharon sent me a picture.  It’s more purple in person rather than this pic.IMG_20140216_102346_323-002

We took some smoked pulled pork to Sharon & Don’s for dinner.  Don was sad because he thought it was only a little bit - -wrong.  We left them the leftovers.DSC_0001-004 DSC_0003-003

We visited with them after diner for a couple of hours.  How nice it was as always.  Thanks guys for the memories.

We’re not sure where we will stay tomorrow night (Monday).  Somewhere between El Paso and Eldorado more than likely.  Good weather, pretty nice roads, just drive tell we want to stop.  Hell, we might not stop tell we see the Atlantic ocean.  Nope…the weather isn’t too great over there right now.

Change one already…  We are heading directly East from El Paso towards Carlsbad probably.  At Midland, TX we stay direct East and not on the interstate.  More back roads.  We head for Waco then Livingston, all back roads.  Same mileage as our “normal” route.  We will see! 

See ya…..

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Heading East & Meeting Friends

Well from Pilot Knob we went to Yuma to fill up the Baby.  We got fuel at the Baron for $3.67.  I could have gotten it for $3.62 put I missed up and used a credit card.  The Baby got 8.2 MPG.  We hooked up at the gas station and got underway about 9:30 AM.  Along the way Carol was taking pictures….DSC_0003 DSC_0006 DSC_0014 DSC_0025 DSC_0028 DSC_0032 DSC_0034 DSC_0041 DSC_0042

We arrived at Sharon & Don’s place about 2:30 PM or so after driving the 290 miles.  We had a slight head wind otherwise no wind.  They arranged it so we could stay on a neighbor’s lot like we have in the past.

What time is it kiddies?  It’s time to eat…..where did everybody go?DSC_0007-002

Maybe we can have one of these seven mule deer.  These guys were roaming around behind Sharon & Don’s lot.DSC_0010 DSC_0011-001

Don fired up his cooker and fixed baby back ribs for us all.DSC_0006-002

Art & Caroline came over and brought a coconut pie.  It was good.  I had two pieces.DSC_0002-001

Now ain’t they pretty!!!!DSC_0009-001

Now ain’t they prettier???  Don seasoned them the way I like them…just a little on the spicy side.  Nice job Don.DSC_0008-001

More pictures can be seen at Sharon's Blog.  I might even be dancing.

And the moon was out.  We sat around the campfire and told stories from the past.  It was fun……DSC_0014-002

It was a good day of driving and even got better as the day went on.  Thanks you all for a real nice time.

See ya………..